Wow, do I need to hear this verse...every...single...day...lately. In September, Daryn and I had an absolutely phenomenal week in Philadelphia, interviewing and training with an organization called Serge: Grace at the Fray. Serge officially invited our family to be a part of their East Africa team, serving in Fort Portal, Uganda! We could not be more impressed with this organization and the people who work with them. They are gracious, kind, experienced, welcoming, fun, and down to earth. Most of all, they love Jesus and don’t take themselves too seriously. They are totally behind us in our partnership with Y.E.S. Uganda, Carol Adam’s established ministry.

Together with our new Serge family, we were able to put together our ministry budget. Talk about intimidating. The numbers are large. They aren’t large because we will make a lot of money, or because we will be living extravagantly. They are large because instead of raising a bare bones budget that might leave our family stuck in a position of ineffectiveness causing us to leave the field prematurely, they want us to raise a realistic budget. A budget that will make sure our kids can get medical treatment and make sure we can fly back to the United States every 2-4 years...a budget that will allow us to run an effective ministry in a country where there are many needs and lives can be changed with the proper resources. We have to raise $105,000 yearly, which is $8,800 per month. This, to a private school teacher, sounds like an insurmountable mountain. But, I am reminded that God is not short on resources. The same God who called our family, who without a doubt WROTE THIS MISSION ON OUR HEARTS, is also the God who knows where the money is going to come from.

You know, I have never struggled much with faith that God will provide. Maybe it’s because things always seem to ‘work out’ in my life. Maybe it’s not faith at all, but a deep sinful sense of self-sufficiency that makes me believe things will always ‘be ok’. I want to believe it’s because I trust my God. When we raised $17,000 for Anteneh’s adoption and $45,000 for JoAn’s adoption, I never wavered believing God would bring that money in and bring those precious kids home. We prayed, we shared our vision, we applied for grants, and our family and friends showed up like rockstars and showered us with support to bring our kids home. We were approved for grants and we sold what we could to find the funds (a house, a motorcycle). Now we can look back and know that all of these precious people who gave money for those adoptions had a role in changing the lives of these once-orphaned children who are now dearly loved sons and daughters. But, is my God big enough to provide $105,000? Again and again? Each year? What about the one time costs that aren't even included in that yearly cost? Well, my heart begins to doubt because it seems like too much. How silly, really. Like two adoptions are possible with God in control, but just a few thousand more is out of His reach? And like the writer of Psalm 77, my favorite Psalm, when I wonder where God is and begin to think he won’t come through, I have to stop and recall what He has already done!“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.” Psalm 77:11-14

Thank you, God, that your faithfulness does not depend on me having everything figured out all the time. Thank you that you use our family in spite of our self righteous self sufficient tendencies. Thank you that you show up big time when there are mountains that need to be moved. Thank you that you are faithful to finish what you start! Thank you that you love the fatherless, the poor, and the needy, and that you have called our family to such an adventure, to serve those you love in Uganda!

In June 2015, my wonderful friend, Nicci, and I made a trip to Uganda to visit with some of the children of Manna Rescue Home and see some of the Ugandans (and Americans) who I have missed so much!

Teaching math at the Manna Rescue Home school

Nicci and Sudi, who has just learned to read!

The best Ugandan driver/translator/ATM bodyguard who ever existed, along with his beautiful family.

﻿It was such a sweet time! Nicci and I got to do some teaching at Manna and spend time with many precious people, like Macline (above), a 15 year old girl at Manna. We had so many adventures in our 9 days in Fort Portal, but one of the best things about the trip was the feeling of HOME I already felt being there. Fort Portal is already feeling like a familiar place and the entire time we were there, I just kept thinking how great it will be to be there with our entire family. ﻿

We spent hours sitting, talking, and learning from the legendary Carol Adams, and had dinner with our friends The Dunns, and the gracious hostess Pat Abbott, a missionary with SERGE: Grace at the Fray.

It was a wonderful trip and possibly our last trip to Uganda before our big move. My only regret was that Daryn couldn't go this time.

In September, Daryn and I will be officially interviewing and training with a missionary agency who we are OVERJOYED to be working with! We will wait until we return in September to say who this is. At that point it will be official and we will kick off our fundraising.

In only 7 days, Nicci and I will be on our way over the Atlantic Ocean, heading for a 10 day adventure in Uganda! SO many people have asked me what the purpose of this trip is and it's difficult to answer that with a simple explanation. The truth is, there are multiple motivations for this visit. In a nutshell, here are the top 3 reasons I'm heading to Uganda for a visit:

1. To catch more of a vision for what Daryn and I will be doing when we move there! Nicci and I will be staying with (in my eyes, the legendary) Carol Adams and spending quality time going deeper with her and learning more about Y.E.S. Uganda.2. To touch base with the Ugandan people I've grown to love: both adults and children!3. To meet some missionaries who are already there, serving with SERGE: Grace at the Fray. We would love to work with them and we want to see if we would fit in as part of their team in western Uganda. They have a rich history in the area and we would love to partner with them!

You know what else is so exciting to me?! Nicci and I have so many awesome donations to deliver, thanks to friends, coworkers, and family. Here is a taste of what has been donated and the other mini-missions we will be on:

We have about 60 Evansville Christian School t-shirts and multiple sport bags to deliver to Harmony Life Uganda ministries.

We have multiple bottles of vitamins that Harmony Life Uganda is distributing to families who have HIV+ children in need of better nutrition.

We have loads of books that are considered "readers" to deliver to Manna Rescue Home for children learning English.

We have craft sets and art supplies to deliver to Manna Rescue Home.

I have a microscope that was donated from Evansville Christian School for Manna Rescue Home, but may not be able to fit it!

Bible studies to deliver to a few close Ugandan friends who requested them.

Bible study books to deliver for a local Fort Portal church

Some new electronics for some Irish missionaries who are serving in Uganda

Lots of supplies for some missionary friends who are very much missing a few fun treats like Skittles and Kool-Aid

We will be visiting the extended families of three different family's adopted kids to deliver pictures, food, hugs, and to check on them.

Picture books for some of JoAn's extended family in Fort Portal

WOW! Nicci and I have so much to do. We will be gone from June 3 to June 13. Please pray for our husbands and (a total of) 7 kiddos we will be leaving behind. Say an extra prayer for Daryn as he is finishing up a bathroom remodel and our house will be listed on the market while I'm gone! The poor guy. Not only am I leaving for 10 days, he is going to have to handle showings and open houses. ha!

Nicci and I will try to keep everyone updated on Facebook and on this blog while we are traveling. God Bless!Brooke

This is a picture of Mackline, one of the girls at Manna Rescue Home that I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE this June!!!

﻿I sure don't consider myself a procrastinator at all. I tend to get an idea and get to work on it immediately. But I have really put off making this first blog post, giving myself the excuse "I'm not a writer. Blogs are supposed to be sound really well written, especially the first one. It should be quite spectacular and insightful." I have even been tempted so far as to consider asking my friend, Nicci, to write it for me because she is so talented that she could be a published author. So, I'm getting over myself and making that awkward first post, because I know there are people who really want to know what is going on with us and and where we are in our big move to Uganda!

So, let me start off my answering a few questions that seem to be popping up frequently:

﻿Timing﻿I have run into multiple people in the grocery store who say, "Wait a minute! I thought you moved to Uganda!" Well, not yet. We made the decision to follow this calling on December 20, 2014 and announced it in January 2015. It takes most missionaries about 18 months to raise funds. We are at month FIVE and getting ready to kick off fundraising. It would have been super cool to have somehow raised the money and had everything in order in 4-5 months, but things generally don't move that quickly. We do have a realistic goal departure of June 2016. That gives us a solid year to fundraise and allows our kiddos to finish next school year. That means Grace can finish up her Evansville Christian School career by graduating 8th grade, too!

PreparationsI don't have to try to be organized. I am by default always organizing something in my mind, so preparing for our big move is naturally exhilarating for me. But, the biggest question I get asked over and over again is: "But why are you doing _______ so far ahead? Why don't you wait until closer until you leave if you don't leave for another year?" The answer is because there are SO MANY THINGS TO DO that if we waited until closer to our leaving date, we would never be able to get there! Here is a short list of what we have already been doing:1. I have "take it to Uganda" bins where I put everything we will need to take with us: kids' headlamps, a small sewing kit, one set of sheets for each bed, etc...2. I have "keep it forever" bins where I put things I know we won't sell or give away: pictures, important momentos like the kids' handmade cards, etc...We are trying to keep this pile very small. ﻿3. We have taken mass amounts of belongings to consignment shops: furniture, clothes...All furniture except for our kitchen table will be sold. The only clothes we will keep are those we will take with us and we will keep one bin of winter clothes in storage for visits home.4. I'm preparing for a big garage sale...There are piles everywhere. Everything we don't need to keep to stage our house for selling GOES.5. We've begun the process of getting our vaccines updated. T-dap hurts...for a week. 6. I've bought all my homeschool material (Again, why so early? Because who wants to be trying to figure that out at the last minute?!)7. We are trying to find homes for our sweet puppies and our outdoor cat. We don't leave yet, but if something doesn't work out with their new owners, we want to make sure we can replace them and they never go to a shelter. Yes, we are still looking for the perfect home for them (in case you are interested)!8. We are looking for friends to hold onto our items that need to be temperature controlled (like family photos).9. We are getting our house show ready! We plan to list with our great friend Dana on June 1st! (Currently we are gutting a bathroom and looking for someone to do some drywall and tiling.)10. We are looking for rental homes or an apartment that is close to school and can fit all 6 of us.11. We began an intense year long mentorship called Sonship through an awesome organization called SERGE: Grace at the Fray. This mentorship is designed to deepen our relationship with Jesus to prepare us for missions. We do daily work and meet bi-weekly with a mentor by Skype.12. We have been talking with SERGE about working in partnership with them and I will be visiting some of their Ugandan missionaries when I go in June.13. We are working on our fundraising letter and some fun prayer magnets our friends and family can post on their refrigerators to remind them to pray for us while we are in Uganda!14. I've organized a trip to Uganda in June for Nicci St Clair and myself. I can't wait to catch up with Carol Adams, see Mackline (pictured above), and meet some of the SERGE missionaries! If you want to pray for our trip, follow this link! Thank you, Centerpoint Community Church for donating the money for my portion of this trip!

Wow. I think that's everything. There is a LOT happening, but still so much to do!Now that my first blog post is done, I can feel much less awkward about the next one! haha